There are many commonly known precautions and methods to ensure optimal dental health. Brushing after meals, not smoking, limiting sugary sweets and seeing your Boynton Beach dentist on a regular basis, for example, are a few mainstream methods to maintaining dental health. Yet, there are many things we come in contact with every day that have the potential to make a mild to significant impact on dental health. For example, did you know that cough syrup contains a higher amount of sugar than most candy? Were you aware that chlorinated pools can cause tartar deposits and tooth sensitivity? Let’s take a look at 4 things you probably didn’t know were affecting your dental health, courtesy of your favorite Boynton Beach Dentist, Dr. Elan Salee.
For Better Dental Health, Skip the Chewable Vitamins.
Due to the very chemical makeup of chewable vitamins, they are designed to adhere to your teeth. This gives (now excited by opportunity) chewable vitamins a greater ability to stick to your teeth and for a longer period of time. This creates a perfect environment for harmful bacteria to hang out and dig cavities at an impressively fast rate. A simple solution to avoiding dental damage by way of the chewable vitamin is to simply take vitamins in pill form. For the kids, shoot for a sugar-free solution.
For better dental health, test and monitor the pH levels of swimming pools in your home (or any pool where your family spend a lot of time.)
When there are chemical additives present in water, such as the chlorine and antimicrobials in pools, the water has a higher pH than healthy human saliva. This means that any long-term exposure to this acidity can lead to tooth sensitivity and tartar deposits on the teeth.
If you own a swimming pool, shoot for pH levels of the water to be between 7.3 and 7.8. If you go swimming at a public pool, bring pH test strips to use before going in. Make sure the pH levels are within a healthy range before you jump in with the family.
A simple solution is to make sure you keep your mouth closed as much as you can while swimming. Tell children to do the same as soon as they start swimming. This way, it becomes second nature and they will be safe from any potentially harmful exposure to chemicals. Rinse with mouthwash as soon as you get out of the water.
For better dental health, drink more water.
Most people know that water is vital to keeping your body healthy. However, many have no idea just how vital the role of hydration plays in dental health.
“Water cleans your mouth with every sip. It washes away leftover food and residue that cavity-causing bacteria are looking for. It also dilutes the acids produced by the bacteria in your mouth. You’ll still need to brush twice a day for two minutes. You’ll still need to floss your teeth. However, drinking water throughout the day will help to keep your dental health in tip-top shape.
Saliva is your mouth’s first defense against tooth decay. It washes away leftover food, helps you swallow with ease and keeps your teeth strong. Saliva washes and nourishes teeth with calcium, phosphate and fluoride.
When your saliva supply runs low, dry mouth may put you at risk for tooth decay. Drinking water can help cut your risk as you and your dentist work to find the best long-term solution for you. “- American Dental Association
For better dental health, second (and third) re-think oral piercings.
Areas to seriously consider avoiding a piercing include the lip, tongue and cheek. The thing is, your mouth is a petrie dish for bacteria. A piercing allows that bacteria to even more conveniently work its way into your oral tissue, which you do not want. Trust me.
Additionally, a metal tongue or lip piercing has the potential to crack or chip a perfectly healthy tooth. That means one accidental bite has the potential to cause dental work and costs that could have easily been avoided. Most importantly, if you have a piercing in your mouth, lip or cheek, be sure to remove it before every meal. You must also be sure to wash the ring before putting the piercing back in.
(Seems like a lot of work, right? It is. Skip the piercing.)
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Sources:
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/saliva
http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/life-stages/adult-oral-care/article/the-effects-of-chlorine-on-your-teeth-1215
https://dentistry.uic.edu/patients/drink-more-water
Welcome to the Boynton Dental Studio, dental practice of Dr. Elan Salee. With a
trusted tradition of personalized, comfortable, quality dental care, Dr. Salee has become
one of the top dentists in Southeast Florida, with the latest technology in
General and Cosmetic Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Endodontics, and Periodontics.
